Friday, August 31, 2012

After your fun party (or family outing) at the bowling alley-- it's time to award the players with some certificates! Just print out these free certificates below, cut, and fill out... then hand out after the game is over. Be creative and come up with cool awards for each player. Here are some ideas below.

Sample of Bowling Award Names
Most Strikes
Best Style
Fanciest Foot Work
Best Wind Up Throw
Most Spares
Spectacular Strike Out
Best Dance Moves After Throwing
Gutter Ball Gal

Instructions for Making Your Award Certificates1. Select the link above, and print out the certificates on an 8.5" x 11" piece of paper (print in landscape mode). Print on card stock to give the certificates some weight.2. Cut out, and hand out at after bowling.Printable items are copyright protected, and provided free of charge by B.Nute productions for personal use only. B.Nute's printables can not be sold, altered, or provided for download on any other site. For questions or inquiries, please contact B.Nute productions.

Thursday, August 30, 2012

You know you secretly like the rental bowling shoes you get when you head to the alley! Maybe you don't like the smell of them, but some of the designs are fabulous. Color blocking is always a favorite for bowling shoes... but what if you could have any design you wanted? Would it be chevron stripes? Floral? Faux bois? Neon polka dot?

Now's your chance! Here's a free printable coloring page created just for you to design your own bowling shoe! Print out and hand out at a Bowling party in their goodie bags, or if you have a couple minutes, and want to do something creative-- here ya go!

Instructions for Making Your Bowling Shoe Coloring Page1. Select the link above, and print out the coloring page on an 8.5" x 11" piece of paper (print in landscape mode).2. Start designing!Printable items are copyright protected, and provided free of charge by B.Nute productions for personal use only. B.Nute's printables can not be sold, altered, or provided for download on any other site. For questions or inquiries, please contact B.Nute productions.

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Everyone loves a Bowling Party! Kids love to play and parents love that they don't have to "do much" for the party, since the alley has it all! But a Bowling Party doesn't have to just be reserved for kids... nothing beats an adult night at the lanes with great tunes and lots of beer on tap!

Here's the perfect addition to your Bowling Party-- free printable retro style menu cards and name tags. Even if everyone knows each other, the name tags can be used to break the group into teams or be identified as your very own bowling league! The menus are perfect to print, fill out and place at each lane so folks know what munchies are available.

If you plan to hand write the names and menu:1. Select link above, and print out image from your browser. Print on card stock to give menu some weight. You can also print some copies on 8.5x11 sticker stock for the name tags.2. Once printed, cut out, fill out and hand out at party!If you'd like to have your menu typed on to the menu card, just follow these few steps:1. Select link above. Go to your browsers File Menu and select "Save As". Save image to your local computer.2. Open an image editing program, and use the type tool to add your menu items. Create one list, then copy and paste this to the other two. Now print out file, and cut cards.3. Or, if you prefer, open a desktop publishing program, import the saved jpg, and add type on top of the menu card. Now print out file, and cut cards.4. Another option is to first print out the menu card (blank) and cut out each card (they are appx. 3.5x7.7 in size.) In MS Word, create a 3.5"x7.5" document. Leave a large enough margin at the top as to not print on top of the bowling image. Type menu. Feed printed menu card through your printer and print out the MS Word document on top.

Printable items are copyright protected, and provided free of charge by B.Nute productions for personal use only. B.Nute's printables can not be sold, altered, or provided for download on any other site. For questions or inquiries, please contact B.Nute productions.

Friday, August 24, 2012

I had so much fun designing this Indiana Jones inspired World Explorer Scavenger Hunt Game! This free printable game is a great way to get the kids at your Indiana Jones party running around and hunting for items.

I've created a printable scavenger hunt card with the list of items to find. Just head to a local toy store or find the objects around your house (i.e., hat, rubber snake, cup/chalice, halloween skull, etc.) Now hide the items through out your party space (house/yard or both). For older kids, you could even have them look around the neighborhood to find the hidden items.

Once hidden, the explorers can use the clue cards to find the items. For items hidden in harder spots, you can put detailed information about how to find the items on the back of the card. Or if you'd rather, you can use the blank cards to come up with your own clues.

Now it's time to get exploring. Beware of snakes and hidden booby traps!

Instructions for Printing Your World Explorer/Indiana Jones Scavenger Hunt Game

1. Select links above and print out from your browser. Use card stock to give the game cards and clue cards some weight.

2. Cut each game card and clue card out.

3. Hand out at party and start the hunt!

Printable items are copyright protected, and provided free of charge by B.Nute productions for personal use only. B.Nute's printables can not be sold, altered, or provided for download on any other site. For questions or inquiries, please contact B.Nute productions.

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Having just returned from South America, I'm on an Indiana Jones kick! Many of our stops at some of the ancient Incan ruins in Peru definitely reminded me of the movies. In the spirit of travel, I've created some free printable World Explorer ID tags.

These tags are perfect to use on your luggage, or can make great name tags/ID tags for your explorers at your Indiana Jones party.

1. Select link above and print out from your browser. Use card stock to give the tags some weight.

2. Fill out with your information, then cut each tag out and laminate if you'd like (an inexpensive way to laminate these is to just cover with clear packing tape.)

3. Punch hole in the top and string a with twine or leather rope to complete the look.

4. Attach to your luggage, handbag, or use a longer piece of twine for a necklace/ID tag!

Printable items are copyright protected, and provided free of charge by B.Nute productions for personal use only. B.Nute's printables can not be sold, altered, or provided for download on any other site. For questions or inquiries, please contact B.Nute productions.

Monday, August 20, 2012

Machu Picchu, Peru- One of the Wonders of the World
and a great reflective spot to contemplate life!

I've just returned from an amazing month long vacation! This was my first "real" vacation since I started my business 5 years ago... a vacation where I "turned my shop off" (a feature of Etsy to put your shop on vacation) and I didn't have email or internet access for most of the trip. It was wonderful to say the least!

This morning when it came time to turn my shop "back on", I admit, there was some hesitation. This came as a big surprise. I absolutely love what I do, so why was I hesitating? I guess I can sum it up in a few words-- quality of life!

The past several months before vacation were very busy for me. Like many working moms, I was having a difficult time "balancing" family life and work. I was working morning, noon and night... including weekends. My kids and husband missed me, and my workout routine became non existent. At this same time, several articles were coming out about working moms-- and the realization that "having it all" is not really a reality! How true this was.

Vacation time has given me a little of that balance back-- and now the trick is to figure out how to keep it. Up on top of Machu Picchu in Peru, as I stared at one of the wonders of the world, I realized that although I love my work, and am so flattered and honored by all my amazing customers, I will be an even happier worker if I can balance work and life better! So, time to fit in my workout, take time to actually "be there" for my kids, and stop working nights and weekends so I can spend time with my very supportive husband!

So, in the next coming months I may be changing things around slightly to help out with my balancing act, but I'm still very excited to hear about your fun party ideas and creating a memorable event for you.

Friday, August 10, 2012

It's so hard to remember what you did on vacation. Here's a free printable I made last summer, that I'll be using again this summer for our trip, a free printable Trip Journal Page. Print them out, bring a couple pens or crayons to your restaurant for the evening, and have your kids fill them out. They'll love reading the stack of journal pages when they get home. Also, once school starts, the pages can come in handy if they have to write a "What I Did This Summer" essay!

Thursday, August 9, 2012

The beach is the best in the summer! I can't tell you how many hours my kids have just spent digging and playing in the sand. I only bring a few accessories-- a couple buckets and shovels, and this seems to be fine. They've made feasts of pretend foods, a hot tub, castles with moats, and loads of tunnels. So if ever in need of an activity, head to the sand!

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Berries are abundant in the summer... and they are the best! I always get sad when I start to see them leave the stores in the fall... although you may see them occasionally in the off season, they are not nearly as sweet as in the height of summer. Here are some ways to celebrate berries this summer:

Go Berry Picking- Head off on a berry picking adventure with your kids. There are many berry patches throughout the US, so just look on the web and find your local spot. Pick Your Own is a great site that lists farms. If you happen to be too late in the season, then venture to a farmers market and pick out a berry sampling.

Make Jam - I remember making jam with my mom when I was younger. It was an all day process, and the results were delicious! Just doing a quick search on the web for jam making with kids, there are plenty of sites with ideas. From 30 minutes jams to more intense recipes, the outcome is well worth the effort!

Berries and Cream - There is nothing like fresh berries in a bowl with a little cream. Mmmm.

Berry Pie - Making a fresh berry pie is quite a treat... if you don't have much time, but would love to make a pie with your fresh berries, just click for some easy berry pie ideas.

Try Some Different Berries - Olallieberries, logan berries, gooseberries, lingonberries, and more... why not introduce some other berries to your family besides the tried and true. Do a taste test and see which one is the family winner.

Make Fruit Roll Ups - I remember making fruit roll ups with my mom one summer. I couldn't believe that it was so easy to make! Here's a recipe from Family Fun to make your own: Homemade Fruit Rolls

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

There's nothing like a good book in the summer time. For adults, there's "beach reads," mysteries, best sellers or historical novels to get us swept away. For kids the experience is the same. How about pick out a book about one of the places you may visit on vacation, or indulge them in their favorite past time from fairies to Pokemon, there's a book for everyone.

So head over to GoodReads, or your favorite book site, get some books and start reading!

Monday, August 6, 2012

Summertime means stargazing! I never take the time to just go out side and look up... but whenever I do, I'm amazed. 2 years ago we spent the night at a place called Safari West, an wild animal preserve in Northern California. At night, we looked up and I've never seen the Milky Way so prominently shining. It was stunning. On this years summer trip we will be on the equator! I can't wait to see the stars from that perspective. I'm hoping for quite a show, since we will be in the middle of no where, with out any light pollution for hundreds of miles.

Thursday, August 2, 2012

No need to go far for a little camping expedition-- just head to your backyard for some summertime fun! Set up a tent, get the sleeping bags, and have some fun. The best part is your home is just a few steps away if you forget anything! Here are some fun ideas for your backyard campout:

Quick Ideas:
Read a book
Make s'mores
Hunt for bugs
Play flashlight tag
Sing songs
Tell ghost stories
Stargaze
Wake up at sunrise